As many know I am learning the boat repair business. Mechanics are as fanatical about their tools as we photogs are. The SNAP ON guy shows up every Wednesday and holy crap it is like the ice cream truck pulled up. My mechanics drop their tools and stumble zombie like for their weekly hit. Once they get their fix they are fine and smiley for a few days as they wear off the new chrome smell, but they start asking, on Monday, if the SNAP ON guy has been here. They know he comes on Wednesday but they feel the need.

I moseyed my way into the opium den this past wednesday thinking I needed some tools of my own. Using my father-in-law's tools is good but I thought being able to etch my initials on my tools would be a nice feeling.

HOLY SHIT. After seeing those prices my wife has no complaint about me buying the occasional camera accessory. I will not be etching my initials into any SNAP ON tools in the near future. I like being able to afford film.

Kinda makes you appreciate the Craftsman tools you can get a Sears.

As many know I am learning the boat repair business. Mechanics are as fanatical about their tools as we photogs are. The SNAP ON guy shows up every Wednesday and holy crap it is like the ice cream truck pulled up. My mechanics drop their tools and stumble zombie like for their weekly hit. Once they get their fix they are fine and smiley for a few days as they wear off the new chrome smell, but they start asking, on Monday, if the SNAP ON guy has been here. They know he comes on Wednesday but they feel the need.

I moseyed my way into the opium den this past wednesday thinking I needed some tools of my own. Using my father-in-law's tools is good but I thought being able to etch my initials on my tools would be a nice feeling.

HOLY SHIT. After seeing those prices my wife has no complaint about me buying the occasional camera accessory. I will not be etching my initials into any SNAP ON tools in the near future. I like being able to afford film.


I will say that Snap-On offers some very high quality tools. (As do S-K, Mack and couple others. Craftsman are also good, just not to the level of the ones I just listed.) My father did auto body and mechanical work. I cannot count the number of low priced tools that were chucked into woods because the cracked, warped, slipped off the nut, or other wise not doing the job they should. There really is a quality difference.

That being said, I do not turn wrenches professionally, but I still appreciate the quality. I will occationally buy Snap-On, depending on what I need. Mostly I have Craftsman. Any tool worth owning is worth buying with quality in mind.*

* I do make an exception if it is a tool I will not need for other than what I am doing at the moment. Case in point, I needed a flare nut wrench, but because of where the nut was, no regular arench would work. I went an bought the cheapest one I could find, torched it so I could bend it to fit. I would never do that with a quality tool.

Craftsman has the great warranty...basically, anything goes. Running to Sears for a replacement socket is fine for the amateur. A pro needs something that just isn't going to break. That's not worth the additional cost to an amateur like me so I stick with Craftsman.

Snap ons are cool.


I own master craft (MonkeyWards) and Craftsman. I'm not so cool.

That warranty is not unique to Sears, but they like to make a big deal of it. Mostly, I have Craftsman too, some Snap-on stuff but all of it purchased second-hand.
The difference is noticeable though, and just like in this realm, if your living depends on the tools you use, it makes sense to buy the best you possibly can.

..... After seeing those prices my wife has no complaint about me buying the occasional camera accessory.......But Snap-On has a weekly payment plan! :D :D :D

a friend's craftsman tools fused together in the back of a car that caught fire.
one big fused mess ... ( car was scraped off the road .. one big mess too )
he brought the tools to the craftsman store ( they had them in the late 80s/early 90s )
the shop-guy guessed what he had ( with help )
and he got a brand spanking new set of tools - FREE.

couldn't get a new car from the guy though ...

That warranty is not unique to Sears, but they like to make a big deal of it. Mostly, I have Craftsman too, some Snap-on stuff but all of it purchased second-hand.
The difference is noticeable though, and just like in this realm, if your living depends on the tools you use, it makes sense to buy the best you possibly can.

Who else has a similar warranty?

I once saw a guy wave down a Snap-On truck and walk up to the driver with a busted torque wrench. Guy gave him a new wrench on the spot. Kind of like a Sears guarantee on wheels.

John Wayne Gacey is president of Snap On Tools I hear. His former wife elected him to that position.

:D

PE

The Craftsman warranty seems like a nice thing, but I don't think I've ever broken a hand tool, other than stripping a mini screwdriver occasionally. I realize it's possible, if you use a cheater on a wrench or use a screwdriver as a pry bar, but it seems easy enough to avoid those kinds of hazards, and the case of John's friend whose tools fused together in a burning car has to be pretty unusual. I'd imagine Sears gets much more goodwill from the warranty than they pay out in tools replaced.

John Wayne Gacey is president of Snap On Tools I hear. His former wife elected him to that position.

:D

PE

I think you mean John Bobbit? He has no choice I think!

I still use my father's Craftsman tools that are well over 50 years old. I've never been able to flag the Snap-On truck to see what he's got.;)

Oh, right. Sorry John. My bad. Bob It is a good name for him.

PE

I have no problem with the tools and their quality. I also know that you pay for quality. In fact, as I learn the ins and outs of boat motors, engines, uppers, lowers, etc...I always reach for the SNAP ON tools because I know they are going to fit. My father-in-law only used the the best, and would lecture endlessly about it, It is his shop we are running. I will be using his. No reason to not. Lord knows there is enough of them.

Jovo,
Flag down that truck. They are cool inside. I have been thinking about trying to get some pictures of the inside.

I still use my father's Craftsman tools that are well over 50 years old.

Me, too. :)

Oh do I empathize. I do mechanical work too.

Good thing I don't view mechanics as "my life", its just a job.

Photography keeps me from overspending there.